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lingness of Jesus Christ to receive to favour the greatest rebels.*

Sinners! if these bowels of mercy do not melt, win, and draw you, the justice of God will be a swift witness against you; you will lie down in eternal misery, for kicking against these bowels of mercy. Christ hangs out still, as once that warlike Scythian did, a white flag of grace and mercy to returning sinners, who humble themselves at his feet for favour; but if they shall stand out, he will put forth his red, his bloody flag, and they shall die for ever by a hand of justice. Sinners, there is no way to avoid perishing by Christ's iron rod, but by kissing his golden sceptre!

Rem. 4. Consider, that Jesus Christ hath no where in all the scripture excepted against the worst of sinners, that are willing to receive him, to believe in him, to rest upon him, for happiness and blessedness. Ah sinners! why should you be more cruel and unmerciful to your own souls, than Christ is? Christ hath not excluded from mercy, why then should you exclude your own souls? Oh, that you would dwell often upon that choice scripture, John vi. 37. All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out:' or as the original hath it, I will not cast out.' 1 Cor. vi. 9-11.

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• Col. i. 19. ii. 3, 4. Neh. ix. 17. Heb. But thou a God of pardons.

'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever,' Heb. xiii. 8. He was born in an inn, to shew that he receives all comers; his garments were divided into four parts, to shew that out of what part of the world soever we come, we shall be received. If we are naked, Christ hath robes to clothe us; if strangers, Christ hath room to lodge us. That is a choice scripture, Acts x. 34, 35, Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.'

Rem. 5. Consider, that the greater sinner thou art, the greater honour thou wilt be to Christ, when he shall behold thee as the travail of his soul, Is. liii. 11,' He shall see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied.' The more we pay for any thing, the dearer that thing is to us. Christ hath paid most, prayed most, sighed most, wept and bled most, for the greatest sinners, and therefore they are dearer to Christ than others that are less sinful; Rachel was dearer to Jacob than Leah, because she cost him more; he obeyed, endured, and suffered more by day and night for her, than for Leah. Gen. xxix. 30. Ah sinners! the greatness of your sins does but set off the fulness and riches of Christ's grace, and the freeness of his love.

Rem. 6. Seriously consider, that the longer you keep from Christ, the greater and stronger

v. 4.

your sins will grow. All Divine power and strength against sin, is derived by the soul's union and communion with Christ. Rom. viii. 10. 1 John i. 6, 7. While you keep at a distance from Christ, you keep from that power which only is able to make you sufficient to trample down strength, lead captivity captive, and slay the Goliaths that bid defiance to Christ. It is only faith in Christ that gives a man victory over sin, Satan, hell, and the world. 1 John It is only faith in Christ that binds the strong man hand and foot, cures every spiritual disease, and makes a man strong in resisting, and happy in conquering. Sin is always weakest where faith is strongest; the most faithful soul, is the most mortified soul. Sinner, remember this, there is no way on earth effectually to be rid of the guilt, filth, and power of sin, but by believing in a Saviour. It is not resolving, nor complaining; it is not mourning, but believing, that will make you divinely victorious, over that body of sin that is too strong for you, and that will certainly be your ruin, if not ruined by the hand of faith.

Rem. 7. Wisely consider, that as there is nothing in Christ to discourage the greatest sinners from believing in him, so there is every thing in Christ that may encourage them to believe in him, to rest and lean upon him, for all happiness and blessedness. Cant. i. 3. If you look upon his nature, his disposition, his names,

his titles, his offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet, you will find nothing to discourage the greatest sinners from believing in him, but many things to encourage them to receive him, to believe on him. Col. i. 19. ii. 3. Cant, v. 10. Christ is the greatest, the most suitable, and necessary good: he is a real, an eternal, and a soul-satisfying good. Sinners, are you poor? Christ hath gold to enrich you: are you naked? He hath royal robes of righteousness to clothe you: Are you blind? He hath eye-salve to enlighten you: are you hungry? He will be manna to feed you: are you thirsty? He will be a well of living water to refresh you: are you wounded? he hath a balm under his wings to heal you: are you sick? He is a physician to cure you: are you prisoners? He hath laid down a ransom for you. O then believe in him, and then, Though your sins be as scarlet; they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' Nay, your iniquities shall be forgotten, as well as forgiven; they shall be remembered no more: God will cast them behind his back, he will cast them into the depths of the sea. Is. i. 18. xliii. 25.

xxxviii. 17. Micah i. 19.

Rem. 8. Seriously consider the absolute necessity of believing in Christ. The fearful and unbelieving, &c. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. If ye believe not that I am

he (saith Christ) ye shall die in your sins.' John viii. 24. And he that dies in his sins, must come to judgment, and depart to hell in his sins. Every unbeliever is a condemned man. 'He that believeth not (saith John) is condemned' ALREADY. John iii. 18, 36. Sinners! the law, the gospel, and your own consciences, have past the sentence of condemnation upon you, and there is no way to escape the sentence, but by believing in Christ: and therefore my counsel is this: Stir up yourselves to lay hold on the Lord Jesus, and look up to him, and wait on him, from whom every good and perfect gift comes, and give him no rest till he hath given thee that jewel FAITH, which is more worth than heaven and earth, and which will make thee happy in life, joyful in death, and glorious in the day of Christ. Is. lxiv. 7. James i. 17. Is. lxii. 7.

CHAPTER II.

The second Device that Satan hath to keep poor sinners from believing in, and closing with a Saviour, is,

BY suggesting to them their unworthiness. Ah, saith Satan! As thou art worthy of the B b

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